The agreement reflects growing security ties between the two countries, which have intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Officials said the cooperation will focus on resilience, civil protection, drone threats and broader regional security challenges, including the safety of the Baltic Sea. Speaking at the event, King Carl XVI Gustaf said Europe’s resilience is being tested by wars on the continent and instability in the Middle East, arguing that countries must adapt quickly and support one another. Swedish Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin said the new statement opens the way for closer bilateral cooperation on what Sweden calls “total defense.”